Page 120 of Kick the Candle (Knight Games 2)
He propped his face against his palm and gave me an exasperated sigh. "Okay. What is it? I'll do my best."
"There is no way that I can be packed and moved out of here by next Friday. Can you push back the closing?"
He pulled out his phone, looked at the screen as if he'd gotten an email, then started keying something in. I waited patiently. It was only my life in the balance. Couldn't he see how important this was to me?
"Done," he said.
"What?"
"I texted the buyer and said I had a personal emergency, could not make the closing on Friday, and we'd have to push it back. So, there you go."
I walked to his side of the counter and hugged him around the neck. "I'm sorry I acted the way I did. I should have called you back earlier."
"Darling, you have your father's temper. I should have spoken to you before I sold the house. But, in my defense, the last house I sold was also in Red Grove and over market value. This town is booming."
"You sold another house out here?"
"Yep." He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "On the other side of the lake. Little cabin in the woods style place off Rt. 3.Used to belong to Elmer..."
"Bishop?"
"Yeah."
"I bought my desk at his estate sale."
"You bought a desk? I thought you were broke?"
"I'm recovering. I really could have bought this house."
"Huh."
"Who bought Elmer's place?"
"Some woman, all by herself."
A tingle traveled from my toes to my scalp. "A woman by herself?"
"Yeah. She said she was into nature. Loved the lake. A writer I think, an introvert. Wanted time alone."
I swallowed hard and tried to find my voice. It took me a few tries to get out a suitable question. "You know, I think I heard about someone from work that was looking for a house. What did she look like?"
"Big woman. Not fat but like a shot putter, you know, big boned. Brown, wavy hair. Not into makeup. Attractive in a natural way."
For a moment, I was sidetracked by the thought that my dad had found a shot putter attractive. But then when I had seen her last she'd been half-drowned and fully possessed.
I cleared my throat. "I know her from work, I think I'll stop by and bring her a house warming present. Do you remember her name? I keep forgetting it."
"Sure, Honey. That would be kind of you. It's Avery Bane."
Dad was acting a little tipsy and a lot compliant. I was fairly sure he shouldn't have given me the name of his client. Probably a breach of privacy laws or something. His secret was safe with me.
What was Avery hiding in that house? Was she possessed before or after the sale? I didn't know, but I intended to find out. I needed to talk to Rick. Avery did have a reason to be at the lake after all; she lived behind it. So, who had tried to drown her?
"I should probably get a move on," my dad slurred. His head had drooped toward the counter and his eyes were rimmed red.
"Why? Is Seraphina keeping you on a short leash?"
He took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose. "I don't think it's going to work out between Seraphina and me."
